[Movie Review] “The Imitation Game” explores themes both subtle and overt

Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch). (Yahoo Singapore)
Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch). (Yahoo Singapore)

Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Yes.

Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.

Secret ending? No.

Running time: 114 minutes (~2 hours)

“The Imitation Game” is a biographical film about the life of the World War II British code breaker Alan Turing. It features three significant parts of his life – his childhood, his life during the war, and his fate post-war. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Alan Turing), Keira Knightley (Joan Clarke), Matthew Goode (Hugh Alexander), Mark Strong (Stewart Menzies), and Charles Dance (Alastair Denniston). It is rated NC-16.

“The Imitation Game” spans quite a few genres – it’s a biography, a thriller, a drama, a romance, and also a war film. Thankfully, it manages to hold its own character despite not fitting neatly into genres, providing a unique experience as it explores the various facets and aspects.

Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). (Yahoo Singapore)
Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). (Yahoo Singapore)

Highlights

Memorable dialogue 

There are so many quotable quotes in the film – you’re probably going to post at least one of the lines on Facebook/Twitter after the movie. The meaningful exchanges are also aided by the powerful but nuanced delivery of the cast, transforming what would be just be a pair of talking heads into gripping scenes.

Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance as Alan Turing

Benedict Cumberbatch has perfected the art of portraying characters with high IQ and low EQ, and his turn as Alan Turing is no different. Despite being an abrasive character, he still manages to elicit sympathy in his rare moments of weakness, which makes him all the more human. Sherlock fans will notice the similarity in his portrayals of both characters, but that doesn’t preclude him from giving an excellent performance here.

Thought provoking issues

The themes of power, love, and the greater good are explored subtly in this film, but also with a surprising amount of insight. How do you handle virtual omniscience? What is the cost of the greater good? And most importantly, what is the nature of love between a homosexual man (Alan Turing) and a heterosexual woman (Joan Clarke)?

Charming set design

Although most of the film takes place in the same location, it grows on you after a while, and becomes a home to most of the characters. It bears quaint touches of the 50s without being too antiquated or anachronistic. Also, it’s British, which has its own special appeal.

Alastair Denniston (Charles Dance). (Yahoo Singapore)
Alastair Denniston (Charles Dance). (Yahoo Singapore)

Letdowns

Unclear sequence of events

The film tells three tales, but the way in which it is interwoven is unclear until Act Two. While this may be intentional, it does create some confusion in terms of timeline and consequences. Also, Alan Turing looks the same age in two of the tales. Good skin comes at a cost of clear storytelling, I suppose.

Unresolved plot lines

There are several threads that don’t get a satisfactory conclusion by the end of the film. The problem is that the movie makes quite a big deal about these scenes, leading us to an expectation of some sort of larger conflict or comeuppance later on. It never comes to pass, and we’re left with dangling threads and head scratching.

Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). (Yahoo Singapore)
Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). (Yahoo Singapore)

“The Imitation Game” takes a fresh, and slightly provocative look at a key historical character who was, till recently, mired in obscurity. It explores issues without judging, and ultimately leaves it to you to decide what you think of Alan Turing.

“The Imitation Game” opens in cinemas 22 January, 2015 (Thursday).

This review was also published on Yahoo Singapore.

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